News & Events

Dr. Thang (Hue University, Vietnam) Visits CSUSM

Dr. Vo Van Thang, MD, MPH, PhD, (Dean, Faculty of Public Health/Director, Institute
for Community Health Research at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam)
visited California State University San Marcos on September 1st, 2017. During his
visit, Dr. Thang held meetings with faculty and staff from the Office of Global Education,
Department of Public Health, and Division of Community Engagement. Discussions focused
on sustaining and expanding the existing memorandum of understanding between CSUSM
and Hue University to include Internship opportunities for CSUSM MPH students, research
collaborations among faculty members, and international exchange programs with CSUSM
host families for Hue University students. It is anticipated that these partnership
programs would create cross-cultural, educational and professional experiences for
faculty and students.

Fall 2017 MPH Orientation Welcomes New Students

The 11th Annual Graduate Studies Orientation & Mixer was held on August 23rd, 2017.
The Department of Public Health held its breakout session in the evening for the 3rd
cohort that included a total of 25 matriculated MPH students. During the orientation,
Public Health faculty made presentations on various topics including the cohort and
hybrid model, assignment of advisors and advising needs, course sequencing, information
provided in the MPH Handbook, accessing Moodle from Cougar Courses, internships, and
integrative learning experiences (thesis and capstone projects). Phuong Nam Nguyen
(CEHHS’s Graduate Student Services Coordinator) provided additional information regarding
the services her office provides to students. Fall semester classes at CSUSM started
on Monday, August 28, 2017.

CSUSM & CEHHS Convocation Welcomes Dr. Asher Santos

Dr. AsherLev (Asher) Santos, our new Global Health faculty member was introduced and
recognized at both the University and CEHHS Convocation on August 24th, 2017. Dr.
Santos has acquired significant teaching and research experiences in Global Health
and has contributed to publications and projects at various institutions in San Diego
during the past few years. He can speak four different languages proficiently and
is working on mastering two others. We are very delighted to have Dr. Santos join
the Department of Public Health at CSUSM.

CSU Health Policy Conference

Our Master of Public Health students had a wonderful time learning about how legislation
is passed by attending a health committee meeting and hearing bills on marijuana,
diabetes, and hearing aids. They also made an appointment and spoke with the Chief
of Staff for Assembly member Marie Waldron, who represents the 75th Assembly District,
representing CSUSM! They also heard from Diane Dooley, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, along with a few other lobbyists and politicians. It was a wonderful
trip overall, funded by the California Endowment, and coordinated by CSULA.

Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy 60th Anniversary, Vietnam

CSUSM delegation celebrates Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy 60 year anniversary
and CSUSM Nursing Faculty Lien Ngo-Nguyen and Dean Powell congratulate CHEER Scholarship
students with their certificates.

Inaugural Advisory Board Meeting deliberates on curriculum and vision for the MPH
program

The inaugural meeting of the newly constituted MPH Advisory Board met on April 14,
2017. In their presentations, the faculty members provided an overview of the current
students, curriculum, cohort structure/course sequencing, and initial application
process for accreditation of the MPH program. The members deliberated on the need
to develop a clear vision of the program, a strategic plan, provide information on
students’ demographics, and involvement in community-based projects.

The long-range goal is to establish a good working relationship of trust with the
Advisory Board so that members would contribute their advice and expertise to the
management and oversight of the program. This will not only ensure sustainability,
but will also assure that the MPH program positions itself to take full advantage
of the niche and exclusive uniqueness of CSUSM.

Recognizing the Master of Public Health Program at CSUSM

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program is proud to recognize Ramona Prado-Olmos,
Rebecca Krogstad, and Jacob Atkins for their participation in the recent Symposium
on Student Research, Creative Activities, & Innovation, which took place on February
24, 2017. CSUSM actively encourages students to participate in research and the new
MPH program is excited to contribute to this endeavor!

Their oral presentation was titled: The Pacific Islander Community Health Pilot Study: Preliminary Baseline Findings on
Physical Activity, Body Composition, and Healthy Eating. Mentored by Dr. Christina Holub, Assistant Professor in Public Health, the students
presented findings from the Pacific Islander Community Health Pilot Study, which is
an academic-community partnership that aims to improve the wellbeing of Pacific Islanders
through community-driven and culturally tailored programs. Read MPH article.

Love your Heart Event

Hope you had a chance to stop by our Blood Pressure Screening booth in the Kellogg
Plaza today. Our Public Health & Nursing students were busy with screening CSUSM Cougars!

Dr. Holub recognized in San Diego Union Tribune for her work

"Speaker Christina Holub of Californa State University San Marcos described a different
kind of translation, taking basic research education from universities into the community.Holub
is part of a team that works with those of Pacific Island ancestry, such as Samoans
and Tongans, and native Hawaiians. At the top of their concerns: diabetes, obesity,
smoking, alcohol use and cancer."

MPH Spring 2017 Orientation

The Public Health program hosted 20 matriculated students (spring cohort) during its
second MPH Orientation on January 23, 2017. During the orientation, Public Health
faculty and staff made presentations on various topics including how the cohort model
works, advisors and advising needs, course sequencing, information provided in the
MPH Handbook, accessing Moodle from Cougar Courses, MPH internships and integrative
learning experiences. Additional information was provided by Jennie Ruiz (CSUSM’s
Associate Dean of Students), Nam Nguyen (CEHHS’s Graduate Student Services), and Nadia
Sandifer and Denise Brown (Financial Aid Office). Also in attendance were staff from
Extended Learning and Mr. Jay Franklin (Enrollment Manager at Extended Learning) provided
a limited tour of selected areas of the main campus. Last Monday was the first day
of classes for spring semester at CSUSM.

Dr. Emmanuel Iyiegbuniwe, Director for the MPH Program and Dr. Christina Holub recently
attended the APHA Annual Conference in Denver, CO, October 29- November 2, 2016. Dr.
Iyiegbuniwe’s presentation was titled, "Assessment of Indoor Air Quality at a public
housing unit for older adult population in Bowling Green, Kentucky" and Dr. Holub,
along with her former MPH student, presented a poster on "Assessing the Contribution
of Assimilative and Integrative Modes of Acculturation on Obesity Among Native Hawaiians
and Pacific Islanders in San Diego, CA”.

APHA's Annual Meeting and Expo brings together more than 12,000 of public health practitioners
and students from across the U.S. and around the world to network, educate and share
experiences. The theme of this year’s APHA conference is "Creating the Healthiest
Nation: Ensuring the Right to Health"

2016 ABRCMS Conference - Tampa, FL

Dr. Iyiegbuniwe attended the 16th Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) from Nov. 9-13,
2016. During the conference, Iyiegbuniwe served as a judge for students’ posters in
the area of Social & Behavioral Sciences and Public Health.

ABRCMS is one of the largest professional conferences for underrepresented minority
students, military veterans, and persons with disabilities to pursue advanced training
in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The conference is sponsored
by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), Division of Training,
Workforce Development, and Diversity (TWD) and managed by the American Society for
Microbiology (ASM).

First cohort of students for new MPH program

New professor tackles student stress with Cogtoolz planner

Dr. Christina Holub, recently hired as an assistant professor of public health at
Cal State San Marcos, created a wellness-focused academic planner to help students
better cope with school-life balance. Read Cogtoolz planner article

CSUSM hires first Director of Public Health

Dr. Emmanuel Iyiegbuniwe, an educator with more than 25 years of experience in academic
administration, teaching and research, has been appointed the Director of Public Health
at CSUSM. Dr. Iyiegbuniwe will provide vision, leadership and administrative direction
for a new Master of Public Health program in the early stages of accreditation. Read Public Health Director article